It is in the books. The Dallas Cowboys have eight draft picks in 2023 NFL Draft. While UDFA signings could go into effect in August when the team makes the solo cut this year, that’s a lot to be said. However, the team prefers to keep as many of their draft picks as possible, a trend likely reinforced by John Ridgway’s failure to clear waivers last season when they tried to sneak into the practice squad.
Of course, not all draft picks are created equal. Here’s a look at where each of this year’s draft picks impacts the depth chart. There will be some changes once the Cowboys get into camp, but this is how they seem to fit right now.
First Round – DT Mazie Smith, Michigan
Dallas always wants to get an immediate start with any first-round pick, even when they’re trailing in the standings as they were this year. The defensive tackle is one of the only positions on the entire team where they can do this. Apparently this was a bigger factor than we realized in the draft, which is why most of us were surprised when Smith’s name was called out on the first day.
Once the initial shock wore off, this choice started to make a lot of sense. There was a clear focus on run defense in this draft. They were weak last year, often failing to get off the field when opponents were third and falling short or fourth. In many ways, this is a direct acknowledgment of that Philadelphia Eagles She is now the big hurdle in the NFC East. They became nearly unstoppable on short runs as Jalen Hurts kept the ball and his offensive line moved forward to move sticks or get into the end zone.
Smith is the new freshman, and he’s obsessed with athletes. It’s so incredibly strong, that the Michigan coaching staff had to come up with new equipment because it needed more weight to move than their old equipment could provide, and sometimes they broke the ones they had.
Weight Room Stories Mazie Smith is the legend of Larry Allen. They actually had to contact the manufacturer of this machine to add more weight to it so Mazi could do the 800 lbs. This is an impossible force.
– Jonah Tulls (JonahTulsNFL) April 28, 2023
His explosiveness is unbelievable for a man of his size.
Smith will be a force in the middle of defense and make those around him better, including Micah Parsons. He would draw a double team almost all of the time. He has moved Jonathan Hankins into a backup role, but that’s not a bad thing. These big guys need a breather, and having a very capable big guy like Hankins spell Smith will mean things don’t fall too far when he does.
However, this may be bad news for Quentin Bohana. It is unlikely that the team will carry three large NTs. Bohana could be released in August, when the team hopes to bring him back to the practice squad as security.
Round 2 – TE Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
In the wake of the departure of Dalton Schultz, there was a lot of talk about the need to take a tight end early in the draft, but Schoonmaker was running on very few radars, certainly not as early as they took him. Many feel he will just be a backup to Jake Ferguson, and some think Peyton Hendershot will be ahead of the new TE as well.
However, Ferguson only had 19 catches last season, and Hendershot 11, for a combined total of 277 yards. This was largely because Schultz ate many targets, with 57 catches. But this means that Ferguson and Hendershot are yet to be proven. In some ways, Schoonmaker is more like Schultz than either. And while it may have been cast as a TE3, it’s really in contention to be a TE1 by the end of camp. Otherwise, he would not have taken the 58th overall.
This puts Sean McKeon on notice, though the team may choose to carry four TEs.
Third Round – LB DeMarvion, Texas
With the return of Leighton Vander Esch, Overseas is locked in competition with Damon Clarke for the LB2 job. The way Dan Quinn uses his staff, sometimes the Cowboys have only one outfielder out on the ball in the outfield, using mix player Jayron Kearse instead. But just as Smith was brought in to shore up the run defense, Oversawn will be in his own competition to get ahead of Clark. The latter had an impressive rookie season, especially in light of the surgery that many expected would cause him to miss the entire season. The key will be which one is the better defender. This can become a case of them having different roles, with one being used more in passing situations.
Oversawn’s addition is to replace Anthony Barr, so he likely won’t force Gabriel Cox or Devin Harper off the roster, though they may have to make the team primarily a special team asset. However, linebackers are very good for this role. I just don’t think Overhown is going to have to count on that. It must be among at least the top three LBs.
Fourth Round – Di Villiami Fiocco Jr., San Jose State
This was one of the more interesting selections, because the fourth round is still seen as a good place to get usable talent, but the Cowboys have a very crowded room. Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, and Dorrance Armstrong are the top four, pushing Hoku into contention with Dante Fowler Jr. and Tuck McKinley for fifth and possibly sixth. Something must be given. Given his position, Fehoko will only make the list if things go very badly in the camp, and he pushes someone else away.
This also appears to affect defensive tackle, since it likely indicates Chauncy Golston will play there full-time at 3T along with Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore.
Round 5 – OT Asim Richards, North Carolina
That’s complicated, because right now there’s certainly a possibility the plan is to move him indoors to guard, a position the team has done nothing else to discuss in the draft. It was seen as one of the most demanding as well, which is one of the reasons why this draft class is seen by many as so impressive.
All signs continue to point to the starting offensive line which is LT Tyron Smith, LG Tyler Smith, C Tyler Biadasz, RG Zack Martin and LT Terrence Steele. This could mean that Richards was brought in to become a swing player as well. This could be beneficial because it means the team won’t have to move Tyler Smith back to the LT if something causes Tyron Smith to miss games, which unfortunately is very likely. And the depth of the offensive line is a real mess right now, or at least not entirely certain. Matt Waltzko missed last season and Josh Paul is on trial. Matt Farniok will likely be the primary backup to Biadasz and he can play guard as well.
Richards has an excellent chance of being on the list if he does well. However, this year has seen some real changes in thinking within the Star, as demonstrated by the deals for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks, as well as taking DTs in Round 1, both of which the team just haven’t done very often, in many years – more than 30 in the latter case. Normally a fifth-round pick would have protected Richard, but that simply may not be true anymore. He has to prove himself.
6th Street (via Commerce) – CB Eric Scott Jr., Southern Mississippi
Dallas wanted this player enough to trade away a 2024 fifth-round pick to get him. He may have been particularly injured this year, as he injured himself in the combine and ran a 40 on his leg, resulting in a very slow time.
The role envisioned for him is a bit of a mystery at the moment. With Gilmore, Trevon Diggs, Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland, the top of the CB group is fine. Wright’s Nahson would probably be Scott’s biggest competition if the team only retained five players (with CJ Goodwin not really counting because he’s a special team player.) Scott might be a future play in hopes of keeping him on the coaching staff for future development.
6th Street – RB Deuce Von, Kansas State
The most important things first. If you haven’t choked on the video of Vaughn’s father, Dallas running back scout Chris Vaughn, making the call to tell his son the card will make Deuce Cowboy, you have a heart of stone and need empathy lessons right away. It was probably the best feel-good moment in the entire history of the NFL Draft.
And it should get you really excited about what that means for the attack, too. Vaughn is an amazing runner and receiver who is incredibly agile and elusive. Get him the ball in space or give him a hole – he doesn’t need a big one – and he’s one of the hardest players to get your hands on. Tony Pollard is Dallas’ RB1, but with him now the featured sprinter, Vaughn is the new change of pace running back. He’s a two-legged quarterback now, and Vaughn could become a real steal late in the sixth round. There was nothing sentimental or giddy about his choice. He was brought in to help Dak Prescott and make the offense better, and he certainly does. The competition at RB is for the third RB, who is older than Pollard or Vaughn, and will likely come down to Ronald Jones and Malik Davis.
Round 7 – WR Jalen Brooks, South Carolina
Honestly, Brooks looks like a flyer. Not very fast, not highly productive in college, plus he missed the Gator Bowl due to what his head coach only described as an off-court problem. It’s hard to see Brooks making the 53-man roster.
This is how I see the impact of each of the recruits on the list. Tell us in the comments how you see them fit, or if they have a chance of staying at all.